Farmer field schools approach, a viable methodology for technology development and transfer

Abstract

Farmer Field Schools is a systematic and continuous method of training and working with farmers under real life field conditions. The method was initiated in South East Asia nearly ten years ago under a mono crop rice culture and basically focusing integrated pest management (IPM). In Uganda the method was slightly modified and made to apply not only on a number of crops but also for use in livestock, fisheries and natural resources management activities. Through the use of this methodological approach, farmers in the Kacaboi and Kasenge parishes of Uganda have been fully empowered to manage their own development. For the last four years farmer groups have kept increasing in number and keeping intact. Farmers have been able to multiply the scarce improved crop varieties over 50-fold within a mere three years. Communities have consequently been able to address their own household food security and indeed move towards focusing improvements in household incomes as a wider means of attaining sustainable livelihood. This method is flexible and lends itself well to being applied in research, technology dissemination as well as in a number of development initiatives. The paper outlines the methodological approach and recommends its wider applicability in the NARO research system